Handling apparatus for tile



`July 15, 1.930. v. J. HULTQUlsT HANDLING APPARATUS FOR TILE l 'Im/ I N V EN TOR. l Zz//7a 7px/As?- A TTORNEY.

July 15, 1930. v. J. HULTQUIST 1,770,406

HANDLING APPARATUS FOR TILE Filed .Julyv 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Nun.

INVENTOR. K /7a rpa/.sr

ATTORNEY.

Patented `lilly 1.5, 193() weil nenntrns Arranz-ictus non Tira' Application ii1ed5ulyr 24,

This invention isv directed to ahandling apparatusffor tile or the like wherein the tile' immediately succeeding their delivery from the tileforining machine are assembled in a manner to-protect their vwearing sides and races during the subsequent drying and burning processes. f n i ln the manufacture of tile or the like, itis well known that an appreciable lproportion ci such tile are damaged in their wearing sides or races during the drying and burning processes, with the result that'suoh damaged tile are of secondary grade and constitute no inconsiderable loss to 'the tile manufacturer. rlhe tile as delivered from the tile nia-king machine are in a semi-plastic Yor softened condition and incident yto their contact one with the other, particularly of the bottom race oi one tile with the wearingiiace of another, the wearing faces orp some of the tile will be marred or scored with the result that when dried and burned, such tile are so imperfect as to permit their use only as second grade even if they can be used at all.

lt is highly important, therefore, that in the handling or" the tile following their delivery rorn the tile making machine, the

' wearing faces must be protected against the possibility of marring contact from yother tile and thatl this protection sho-uid be maintained during'the drying Yand burning processes in order that` the wearing races shall, throughout the completion of the manufacturing A further cbyect or arranged in pairs in the handling apparatus are turned into upright contacting` relation to arrange theirwearing faces iny intimate Y the present invention is the provision oic means whereby the tile 192s.r 'inseriti No'. 295,003.

contact and held in such positioiizto permit their convenient removal as a unit for de.V

llivery to the trays or conveyor by which they are transported for the dryingand burning processes.V l Y a A further object of the invention is the provision oi' means Jror-triinrning that edge of the tile which is usually more or less ragged as thev result oic the operation or" thetileV forming machine, with such trimming automatically periected as the tile are moved from one position to the other in the handling 'apparatus. Y The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :v I

Figure 1 is a plan viewv of the handling apparatus. Y 1

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 ofFigurel; l Figure 3 is a transverse section on line '3-3 oi Fig-ure l. Y 1 f Figure 4 is a broken view similar to Fig- "ure 2 with the tile shown in elevated or final positions. Figure 5 is asectional detail vshowing the trimming means. i

Figure 6 is a perspective view showiiigfthc composite hinge niemberior the tile apparatus, the parts or such member being` shown separated.

In the ordinary manufacture ofceramic tile and thelike, the tile, following their de-, l

livery from the 'forming machine, are deposited on an oil-bearing belt vin slightly spaced relation, and ordinarily are talren from the belt by hand and placed in trays lor carriers to be transported for the subsequent drying and burning processes. ln the handlingof the tile from the oE-bearing belt, the wearing faces ci some of the tile will be marred or scored incident totheir delivery into the trays or carriers with ythe result of producing imperfect tile.

` To avoid this objection, *the tile 4Vhandling apparatus of the present invention is arranged adjacent the oil-bearing-belt and the tile ,taken irointhe belt in'pairs are arranged on the apparatus and the apparatus operated to cause the tile-Sto be positioned-'in' mating contact with their @Wearing `JfacesQ adfjacent,

from which position the two tile are removed as a unit and placed on the trays or carriers in proper relation for transportation for drying and burning.`

After the tile are positioned in the tile handling apparatus of this invention, they are subsequently handled as a unit and their wearing faces are adequately protected against injury, with the result that very much larger proportion of perfect tile follow the usual drying and burning processes than has been heretofore possible. Of course, it will be understood that a sufficient number of tile handling apparatus of the present invention will be arranged in relation to the off-bearing belt to permit all tile delivered by said belt to be properly handled.

The tile handling apparatus of the present invention comprises a suitably supported frame including end bars l and side bars 2, the vlatter being preferably in independent longitudinally aligned sections connected by a strip 3 secured to the section by bolts 4l, the bolts passing throughelongated openings 5 in the strip?) to permit variable spacing between the meeting ends of the sections of the side bars to adjust the overall length of the frame for the accommodation of tile of different thicknesses. The end bars l removably support plates 6 which, as will later appear, have their upper surfaces in the plane of the tile-receiving platen and are designed to be replaced or adjusted when longer platen are to be used.

The respective sections of the side bars 2 remote from the off-bearing belt with which the apparatus is associated are provided with upstanding metallic plates 7 constituting and hereinafter referred to as side gauging strips for the tile, these strips having the additional function of providing for the trimming of the particular edge of the tile as will be later described.

Supported in the inner or adjacent ends of the similar sections of the side bars 2 are pintle rods or shafts 8, said pintle rods being thus arranged in spaced parallel relation transversely of the apparatus. Supported on each of these pintle rods is what may be termed upper and lower hinge bars 9 and l0, the latter cooperating with the pintle rod through a central gudgeon ll and the former cooperating with the pintle rod vthrough end gudgeons l2 between which the gudgeon ll is fitted, whereby to permit unit movement of the upper and lower hinge bars on the pintle rod or their independent movement on said rod.

Removably secured to each upper hinge rod 9 and 'on the relatively outer vface thereof is a platel providing an end gauging plate for the tile. The thickness of the lowe hinge bar l0 is substantially equal to the combined thickness of the upper hinge bar 9 and the plate 13, so that when the machine is in normal position and the respective hinge bars are in vertical aflgnment, the lower edge of the end gauging plate 13 rests squarely upon the upper edge of the lower hinge bar l0 beyond the gudgeon ll thereon. i

A pair of bracket arms l are secured to the lower hinge bars i9 wi i the main links of such arnif` c 'tenl right angles to such hinge bar toward the adjacent end block l of the frame and on a A ne above the lower edge of the end gauging plate 13. Removably secured on ea lA l air of the bracket arms is a pallet l5 presenti g a smooth even upper surface receive and support the tile ...s it is delivered from the off-bearing belt. These pallets are removably connected to the bracket arms and have a dimension substantially corresponding to thc space between the side bars and end bar at one side of the ent gauging plate 13.

By this arrangement and as partie larly noted in Figures 2 and 3, the upper surface of the pallet l5 is above 'the lower edge of the end gauging bar 13 and is wholly free of cir ct connection with end gauging bar while at the saine time bearing squarely against said end gauging bar when the parts are in normal inopera ive positions.

Each lower end bar lO carries an operating arm 16 connected at its 1pper end to the approximate longit.. linal edge of the hinge bar and depending from said hinge bar at an inclination toward the ren aining hinge bar, the lower terminals of the op rating arms being thus arranged slgghtly at one sie e of the transverse center of the apparatus, The lower end of each arm i6 is connected through a flezfzible connector l? with a treadle 18, the connectors passing over idlers 19 connected 'to the end bars l and over a central double idler Q0 supported on the frame.

The movement of each operating bar i6 is opposed by a spring 2l connected to the bar and leading therefrom in a direction opposite that of its connector and terminally connected to the frame bar l. Thus, the operating bar l@ may be simultaneously operated by the pressure ou the treadle and simultaneously returned to normal 'position by the springs 2l when the pressure on the treadle is released.

Each upper hinge bar 9 is connected on its inner side to an operating arm 99., these arms extending from each hinge bar at a slight downward inclination toward and beyond the transverse center line of the machine and then vertically of the machine to a point slightly above the upper ends of the operating arms 16. As thus arranged, the operating arms i upper hinge bars 9 cross each other at the transverse center of the apparatus and are, of course, relatively offset to avoirL interference in movement. Y

The lower ends of the operating arms 22 lUO fare connected by flexible connector., 23 to iii) weights 24 vwhich slightlyv overbalance Lthe weight of the upper hinge bar and the connected end gauging plate. 13. Theilconnectors 23 preferably pass oVeridlers-.onthe shafts 19.

1n the use of 4the apparatus,assuming the u y v convenient adjustment vfor the handling of parts in normal position as illustrated infull lines in Figure 2,twotile or other like article vare removed from the offfbearing belt anddeposited one on each of the platen. 15, the tile being positioned against the fsid'ey gauging plates 7 and end gauging plates 13, with their wearing sides or faces uppermost. The treadle 18 is then c epressed and, through the connectors 17 and operating arms 16, vthe lrespective upper and lower hinge bars 9 and'V l'respectively are moved `as a unit on the pintlelrods 8. ln'this movement, the pallets l15 carrying the tileare swung upwardly into a vertical position, the tile being then supported on their edges and on the end gauging plates 18, as shown more'particularly in 'Fig-A ure 1. l i

lOnireleasing pressure on the treadle, the springs 21 act through the operating bars 16 to return tie lower hinge bars and pallets to their normal or inoperative/positions,

'leaving the tile standing vertically on end gaugingplates 18. The weights Qaare' insuiicient to overcome the additional weight of the tile on the end gauging plates 1,3 and.

hence the end'gauging platesy 13: remainv as supports for the tile while .the tile,` are vin this upright position.

vWith the spacing ofthe end .bars 2 ar-rv ranged to accormnodatev the thickness `ofthe particular tile or article :being handled,rit kwill be understood that when the tile are turned upwardly in the manner described, their wearing faces will bebrought into contact and the tile thus held as a unit with vsuch wearing faces completely covered and protected one by the other. The two tile thus associated are removedv as a unit from the apparatus and delivered to the trays or carriers for the further processes vof drying and burning. lmmediately the tile are removed from the end gauging plates 13, the weights 2a act to return the end gauging plates to their normal positions, that is, Vin proper relation to the platen to receive the next pair of tile.

The tile, as delivered from the` tile formi-V' y blades or the lilre. 'A As the tile .aregturnedup- Werdly thrQusl-l. the'. l1,11@rement .of .the ,platea it iS, apparent ,that the .ef/lees. incanta@ with' paratus is the provision4 of means whereby .',m'oving the tile intothe desired position -for .handling.- p 1 y rEhe.- apparatus as a whole lendsfitselfv to articles, suchastile or the lileof different sizes, particularly -in'the'transversev andend- 4 'wiseadjustment described and in the removable connectionof the side and end gauging plates? and-13 and of the platen '15,ffo'rfby appropriate'adjustment of `these parts, it is Y apparent that tile `of' different vsurface area; or thickness may kbe readily and properly` accommodated'in the apparatus T hat is to say, the distance between the platen vwhen upturned must snugly accoinmodatetwo tile and; this distance may be varied by lapproj priate spacing `of the pintle rods 8 and this appropriate lspacing-is obviously secured by V`the correspondingrelative,adjustment of the sections 2 of the side bars. .pl/Vliere .longer tile or articles are to be used and willbe accommodated on the platen, the plates 6 may be removed to permit theuse of platenof `grr-eater length, Vthough obviouslyif desired the plates 6 may be adjustably connectedin ,positiony so that they niay'beireadily ad-v justedV to` accommodate platens of different lengths. H 'f rlie important feature of the present apthe tile, with minimum handling, are arranged Vin'pairs with the wearing faces of vthe respective Ytile in contact' .and the pair of tile so relatively disposedthat theyniay be subsequently handled as a unit without any exposurewhatever ofthe wearing` faces 4Thus, the wearing faces are protected against being marred Vor scored and will, so far as this liability is concerned, he maintained in perfect condition with the result of a greatlyv increased proportion of perfect tile as conipared with the former metholsy of h'smelling` Y 0f course, it is to be understood that while referenceis made more or less specifically herein to tile, the apparatus .inay,`with equal facility Yand small mechanical change, be adapted for the handling of other ceramic articles in which itisdesired to proteeta lparticular face orportionfagainst damage during the transfer from the off-bearing belt to the trays or carriers for subsequent treatnient.r Y

l Furthermore, itis of course to be under`- stood that any and all parts of the apparatus lmay be in any desired relative proportion suitable forthe particular worlr and may-be constructed of any` appropriate material which may be foundy ofl service. 'ln this con- .iiectcm teghenotefl mettere-:side and and,gauging-inlet@ ed .fle alsofthe `elettrare.;preferably`ioriletel.te naar.- a

true and even surface to avoid any possible distortion of the semi-plastic article while being handled in the apparatus.

What is claimed tobe new is:

1. A handling apparatus for tile or the like, including supports for adjacent tile on which the tile are to be arranged with their wearing'faces uppermost each support comprising a platen and guage hinged together to receive the end and side of a tile, means for same horizontal plane, means for moving the supports into a vertical plane to cause the tile carried by the supports to be moved into contact while on the supports, and means as- -s'ociated with the supports for retaining the tile in vertical position when one section of both such supports is returned to normal horizontal position.

'3. A tile handling apparatus, including a frame, sectional receiving supports for engaging the ends and sides of Vadjacent tile, means for pivoting the adjacent ends of the supports to the frame, means :tor normally holding the supports in substantially the .same horizontalplane, and means for simultaneously moving the supports into spaced parallel vertical planes to thereby clamp the tile carried by the supports between the latter with the tile surfaces in contact, and

means associated with and forming part of the supports to retain the tile in vertical position when one section of each support is returned to normal horizontal position.

4. A tile handling apparatus, including a pair oit tile-receiving supports mounted for swinging movement, pivotally mounted end gauges at the ends of the supports against which the tile are positioned when on the supports, means for simultaneously moving the tile supports and their end gauges to position the tile carried by the supports in face c-ontacting relation, means for causing the supports to return to normal position while the gauges remain in operative position with reference to the tile thereon to support the tile in vertical position, and means for returning the end gauges to normal position when the tile are removed.

Y 5. A tile handling apparatus, including tile-receiving supports mounted for swinging movement, said supports including pivoted end gauges against which the tile are positioned when on the supports, means for moving the tile supports and their end gauges to position the tile carried by the supports in face contacting relation, means for causing the supports to return to normal position while the end gauges remain in operative position to hold the tile in vertical position, and means for returning the end gauges to normal position following the removal of the tile therefrom.

6. AL tile handling apparatus, including tile-'receiving supports arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane and mounted for swinging movement, means for simultaneously moving the supports into substantially vertical position to canse the tile carried thereby to be moved into contact, end gauges for the tile pivoted to the supports and mov ing with the tile in the movement of the supports, means for automatically returning the supports to normal position following the positioning oi the tile in Contact, said end gauges serving to carry the tile :following the ret-urn movement ot the supports, and means for returning the end gauges into normal relation with the supports tolle ing the ienioval of the tile therefrom.

47. A tile handling apparatus comprising a pair of pivotally mounted supports, each support including a. tile-carrying platen and a Y hinged end gauge mechanism for operating said supports to move the tile carried thereby into tace contact, mechanism for returning the tile carrying platens to normal position following the contacting relation of the tile, and mechanism for returning the gauges 'to normal position following the removal of thetile from the apparatus.

8. A tilehandling apparatus, comprising Atile supports including platen and end gauges, pintle rods on which the platen and end gauges are supported 'for independent movement, means for moving the platen and end gauges as aunit to position the carried tile in face contact, and means for returning the platen Vto normal tile-receiving position while permitting the end gauges to remain in operative position to support the tile.

9. A tile handling apparatus, comprising tile supports including piaten and end oautres ointle rods on which the platen and b C 7 L tively adjustable sections, tile supporting platen and end the platen and end gauge means mounted for pivotal movement on theV similar sections oi each sidebar, said tilesupporting means including, platen and end gauges, manually operable means `for moving the platen and end gauges as a unit from a normal to an operative position to arrange the tile in face Contant, means'for automati f callyreturning the platen toa normal position following the contacting relation of the tile, andmeans for thereafter returning the end gauges to normal position after the ver-Av tically disposed tile have been removed and the platens returned to their normal position.

l1. A tile handling apparatus, comprising a frame including side bars made up of relatively adjustable sections, tile supporting means mounted `for pivotal movement on the similar sections of each side bar, said tile# supporting means includ-ingplaten and end gauges, means for mounting Vthe platen Vand gauges to be independently operated when returning the supports to normal position, manuallyV operable means for moving the gauges as a unit from a normalto an operative position to arrange the tile in face Contact, means 'for automaticallyv returning the platen to a normal position following the Contacting relation or the tile, and means independently of the before mentioned automatic means for automatically returning the en-d gauges to normalposition followingthe removal o'vthe tile from the apparatus, and after the platens have returned to'their normal position.k

12. A tile handling apparatus, comprising tile-supporting means including an upper hinge bar, a lower hinge bar, means for pivotally supporting the hinge bars for simultaneous or independent movement, a platen carried by the lower hinge bar, an end gauge carried by the upper hinge bar, manual means for operating the hinge bars simultaneously to move the platen andvend gauge from a normal to an operative position as a unit, and means for independently returning from an operative to a normal position.

13. A tile handling apparatus, including relatively adjustable frame bars, pintle rods carried by the 'frame bars and adjustable relative to eaoh other through the adjustment of the frame bars, a lower hinge bar mounted on each pintle rod, an upper hinge bar mounted on eaoh pintle rod, a platen carried by the lower hinge bar, an end gauge carried by the upper *hinge bar, means for thepsiame horizontal plane and eachsupport including a'platen and a hinged Vend rgauge and eachl support adapted to receive the end i and .side of a tile, means for operating the supportato move the tile while carriedby the supports into a vertical position with their wearing faces in contact,.and means to return the platens to normal positiony while the tile are supported on the gauges following con? tacting relation of the vtile to thereby present the tile :for unit handling free of obstruction to their removal from the apparatus in this Y relation.

15. A tile handling apparatus, including.-

two-party pivotally mounted supports normally arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane and each support includingv a hingedend gauge,and each support adapted to receive the end and side of a tile, means lfor operating the supports to move the tile while carried bythe supportsinto a vertical y position with their wearing faces in contact, and means for returning one part of each of f the supports to normal position after the-tile are in vertical position, and means for thereafter returning the gauges to normal positionV after thetile are removed.

ln testimony whereof l arfx my signature..

vieronl J. HULTQUIST. [L a] movingthe upper and lower hinge bars as a,v

unit from a normal to an operative position, springs for returning the lower hinge bars and platen from an operative to a normal position, and weights for independently return- 

